Mornin’ all! I am on the ball this morning and got most of my packing in before breakfast. I am the WORST at packing because I usually just pack all my favorite individual items and not actual outfits and then have a hard time putting them together in my location (and inevitably pack way too much). Since we’re doing carry on tomorrow, I have to be efficient. I planned out outfits for each day based on our activities planned. I still packed too many things, but I like to have at least 2 back-up choices in case I get “thrown in a lake,” as I always say 🙂
I came down this morning and realized I had a few products still yet to review.
Nasoya sent me a coupon for their new Silken Creation line of tofu that is sweetened and ready to be turned into a dessert or smoothie.
It is actually just like pudding!!! It tastes great, but it’s also very, very, very sweet. Since soy is naturally sweet, I think they could have backed off on the cane sugar just a bit. Each 1/2 cup serving is 120 calories with 20 grams of cane sugar and 3 grams of protein.
The rest of the smoothie ingredients, plus ice –
And for topping I used some Mix My Granola. They actually have a whole new line of enhancers that you can add to your mixes. Mine has lucerna, “an excellent source of fiber and beta carotene,” and mangosteen powder, with “antioxidant strength and potential impact for lowering risk against human diseases.” I love the mangosteen smoothies at Smoothie King, so I picked this one 🙂 I don’t know if I could taste the enhancers since my granola was mixed in, but we’ll see if I feel any different 🙂
Lastly, I added a dollop of hazelnut butter, which I just LOVE in smoothies!! It’s kind of strange plain, but it goes really well with a sweet contract. In fact, I am really big on sweet vs. unsweet contrasts. In plain oatmeal I like a sweet nut butter and in sweet smoothies made with fruit I like an unsweet nut butter. I also prefer my coffee and tea unsweet when I am eating breakfast as a palate cleaner.
But speaking of sweet, this smoothie was WAAAAY too sweet. The tofu pudding was just over the top. Can’t believe I am saying that since I love me some sugar, but for breakfast it was just a little too much. After dinner or in a homemade dessert, it would be perfection.
I love smoothies made with greens not for the nutritional value – I really couldn’t care less about that because I could have easily thrown this handful of spinach into a salad for lunch – but because I just love the color GREEN! It has been my favorite color for ages, thanks to my green + gold eyes
I also love all things froth –
And I tried a new coffee. I apologize for not remembering who sent this to me, but it was delicious!! Please remind me if you read this so I can get the appropriate shout out!
This liquidy breakfast filled me to the brim!
Agenda:
- Packing
- Housework
- Computer work
- Workout
- Lunch
- Real work
- Late dinner
- Early to bed
Ta-Ta!
Stacey says
I know exactly what you mean! Yesterday I made some choc chip and banana pancakes (thinking it would be a nice change) but UGH. It felt like dessert, and wayyy to early in the morning for those types of sweets!
Have fun packing and working 🙂 Hope you have a good workout too, I on the other hand am propping up my poor little feet, haha.
Anna says
Hi Kath! I just started my very own blog today and couldn’t be more excited about it!! If you have time, I would like it if you checked it out- annaseats.com. I enjoy reading your blog and it had a big influence on me – so much that I decided to start my own so I could get my story out there regarding my relationship to food. I hope you enjoy it 🙂
Katey says
haha- I always pack TOO many outifts. Good job on keepin’ it small 🙂
Kristin @ Iowa Girl Eats says
I am literally the queen of sugar, but too much sweet in the morning throws my stomach all off. Have a great day!!!
Erica says
I am the worst packer! I always pack wayyyyyy too much. Looks like you did a great job. The silken sounds like kind of a dud- only 3 grams of protein?
Foodie (Fab and Delicious Food) says
Love the color of the green smoothie! It’s so pretty!
I tried the Nasoya Silken Creations products (vanilla and chocolate), too! I also thought they tasted just like pudding! And I agree that they are sweet enough on their own – I made blondies/brownies with the vanilla and chocolate Nasoya Silken Creations and completely omitted the sugar that the recipes called for since the Silken Creations already contain a good amount of sugar. The blondies/brownies ended up tasting just fine without the added sugar! Here’s my product review/recipe review in case you’re interested:
http://www.fabanddeliciousfood.com/?p=8248
Good luck with your to-do list!
Whitney says
Have a fun trip! 🙂
Shannon (The Daily Balance) says
Have been looking for the Silken Creations and can’t seem to find them anywhere! I have a huge sweet tooth, so I’m not sure I’d have the same problem if I incorporated it into my breakfast 😉
Christie @ Quit Your Diet says
I always over pack as well. You just never know what can happen when you are away!
Good luck with your to do list, you have a lot to do!
jess says
I think that’s why I love my green monsters in the morning – because they aren’t too sweet first thing in the AM!
Snake says
1. Your favorite color for ages has been PURPLE.
2. You COULDN’T care less. If you could, then why don’t you?
3. I’m in Charleston Aug 7th – 10th, think you and Kanz might be able to stop by for a day or two?
-Snake
Sarah says
Sorry that stuff was too sweet, but thanks for the review! Have a great day 🙂
Cait (Cait's Plate) says
Hah! Kath, I’m the same way about packing – without fail I’ll have about 18 shirts and three pairs of shorts. I always start out with the best intentions but my efforts are always fruitless.
DEFINITELY try the silken vanilla cupcakes that Tina made – I made them with the strawberry nasoya and they were SO GOOD.
leslie says
i’ve never been able to enjoy sweetened soy products because they taste so oversweetened to me. thanks for the review!
i’m the same on sweet/ unsweet pairings. the one time i tried coffee in my oats, it didn’t go well because i had bitter oats and bitter coffee. i need balance! 🙂
Amelia says
What a pretty breakfast!
I’m the same with packing. I just put together all my favorite things and get there and realize I have 10 shirts and one pair of shorts!
Andee (Runtolive) says
Have a great trip! I still haven’t tried tofu in smoothies yet, do you feel it makes it creamier than if you used yogurt?
Jessica says
Hey Kath! I have a random question for you – I have been really wanting an iphone and I was wondering what your opinion is. Do you think it’s worth it? I have verizon right now so i would have to change networks and I know it would be more expensive so I was just wondering what you think about it. Thanks!
Holly (The Healthy Everythingtarian) says
you are too dang creative my dear…every morning, you never cease to amaze!
Marisa (trim the fat) says
thanks for the review on the silken tofu. Nasoya is my favorite brand of tofu and I have been eyeing their new product up for a while. I think it would be a great dessert option, maybe in some dessert shells topped with berries. I’ll have to give that a try!
Looks like you did a good job packing! I stink at it and ALWAYS bring waaaay too much!
brandi says
i was wondering how sweet that tofu was! good to know in case I try it.
I always pack too much – I can’t wait to see what my suitcase looks like for the week we’ll be in Honduras next week!
tina says
Ugh. I hear ya on the packing!
See ya tomorrow! 🙂
Sarah (Running to Slow Things Down) says
I’m the same way…I like unsweetened coffee with sweet banana oatmeal and unsweetened nut butters. I like iced, sweetened coffees with something not so sweet. It keeps things balanced for the tastebuds. 😀
Love how your breakfast looks though…so pretty!
Jean says
Ok, just read something about silken tofu cupcakes on Tina’s site….off to check them out!
I agree about too sweet breakfasts! I’m a simpleton–smoothies and low sugar cerals, and MAYBE nut butter toast if I’m feeling crazy. I never want pancakes or waffles. Waaaay to sweet!
Rose says
Oooh – so beautiful and green!
I am the same way about packing favorite items vs. outfits. It’s hard for me. I’m a chronic overpacker!
Deva says
I’ve been wanting to try the silken creatiions, but my grocery store doesn’t carry them yet.. I’ll have to look harder, maybe at Fresh Market for it…
Your smoothie looks really good. I’m a balance person, too. I like sweet/unsweet at breakfast if I can manage, I love adding tart blackberries to super sweet bowls of oats.
Jess says
If you had to do it again what would you use the silken creation for instead?
It seems like a cool idea, but I can understand how it might now work with breakfast!
Bec says
your smoothy bowl has such a pretty colour today!
Kate says
I have been eyeing that pudding at Whole Foods for a while now, but I’ve shyed away every time I go because of the high sugar content. I guess my assumption was a safe one! Oh well, breakfast still looks great!
I recently went on a five-day cruise with my family and I WAY overpacked. I probobly brought along twenty outfits when in reality I only wore a few – we were in swimsuits most of the time!
Heather @ Health, Happiness, and Hope says
Glad to hear you got a productive start on your morning. Sorry the smoothie didn’t turn out so well… it sure looks good!!! 🙂
ellie says
I always WAY overpack! I never know what I am going to need!
I was surised at the tofu’s low protein count (and high sugar count)…
Special K says
I have to have my fist cup of the day black…but LOVE it with granola (I am crazed right now about Laughing Girafee!)…but mornings, it’s easy to get into a rut….right now, I am trying to trust it more, and I love your blog! Check out my living TRUST challenge this week and giveaway!
http://thespecialktreatment.wordpress.com/
Special K says
Thanks Kath!
Daria (Summer of the CSAs) says
I wish I could find things too sweet in the morning, but I’d be perfectly happy with donuts if I’d let myself have them for breakfast. 😉
Hope it’s a great trip! I still don’t know if I can make the blogger meetup, but I’ll try!
HeatherBakes says
Sweetened tofu, eh? Sounds innnnnteresting. So far I’ve just stuck with savory tofu dishes.
You seem like such an organized packer! I always make these giant to-pack lists and still end up forgetting something every time.
Special K says
I am trying to get out my rut in the morning with my am fuel…right now, it’s yogurt with LAUGHING GIRAFEE (yum-o!)….your blog is inspiring me to branch out and trust more. This week, I have a challenge and giveaway, I’d love your feedback! http://thespecialktreatment.wordpress.com/
Special K says
Your blog is helping me branch out of my morning fuel RUT…right now it is yogurt and laughing girafee (I am crazed about the stuff). Thanks for your awesome ideas, and I would love your feedback about my trust challenge and giveaway!
Faith says
I hate packing! This might sound weird, but I’ve found the best way to minimize wrinkles and maximize space is by rolling my clothes — I fold the piece of clothing in half and then start at one end and roll is up (jelly-roll style)! 😉
I love your green smoothy bowl!
Mandy A says
I ALWAYS overpack 🙂 You never know what’s going to happen!!! Or what you might end up doing! 🙂
Christina says
I wonder if you could eat that tofu by itself as pudding? I want some if that’s the case!
capedaisy says
i had to pack for a whole month (currently) in London/France. Just packed for one week planning to do laundry a couple times out here. Role everything into small balls. My yoga bag worked great as carry-on. Love the green smoothies. Such a vibrant color!
Amanda @ Cakes and Ale says
Efficient packing is definitely an art! It’s so worth it though, to have a small bag and not have to worry about dragging too much stuff around (or unpacking a lot of junk when you return!)
Becci says
Green is my favorite color, too (but I have blue eyes!)!
Jenn Eats Nutritiously Now says
Good luck with your packing– I’m kind of the same way with packing as you are.
AnnQ says
After looking at your pictures, I’m definitely making a smoothie for lunch today! (one of the benefits of working from home 🙂 )
Good luck with your packing!
– AnnQ
Carrie H says
Hey, Kath —
I just finished reading “Rethinking Thin” last night and it was such an interesting book. Have you read it? What did you think?
I think it has some awesome points about social pressures and scientific research in it, but I wonder about the way the author framed the idea that if you are overweight or obese, you will pretty much be that way forever … Maybe that is so, but I thought some of the book sort of encouraged complacency — like, even if you are overweight, that doesn’t mean you should eat McDonald’s and not exercise because “you were born that way” … Anyway, any thoughts?
Thanks!
Heidi Diedrick says
Your coffee would have to be from someone in IL, around Crystal Lake. I live a town over and Loooooovvvvvveeeeee Conscious Cup. They roast the beans there, all fair trade, they actually go on the buying trips for the beans they roast. Very knowledgeable and love to share it with customers. Great environment to laze away a rainy day in too. Their Ethiopian Harrar is awesome too. You can get their coffee off their website: consciouscup.com, I think. Oh, and I used the chocolate Silken tofu in a pie. Served it with my canned chocolate raspberry sauce or my Black Forest cherry sauce which is to die for. I think I cut the pie into 16 pieces to lower the sweet factor. Jewel Food or Whole Foods carries it here in IL. The website for them also has some great recipes. Like using the vanilla for a key lime pie. Yum.
Irene says
Thanks for posting about the Silken Creations. Dairy just does me in! Now I have to go find it…
Mrs. Myers (Eat Move Write) says
I love how there’s all that work and then “real work.” I know what you mean. That’s usually my list too. 20 grams of sugar and only 3 grams of protein is not that impressive. Soy is so sweet anyway. Thanks for the review.
Ashley says
Kath! My husband heard about your blog last night on “current tv.” I am a food FREAK so he told me about it when I got home. After 5min [or less] I was in love. And THEN I realized you live in Charlotte and so do I. Kind of crazy. I just started my own business (real job – architecture) making homemade natural granola bars. Do you ever venture to the Charlotte Tailgate Farmers Market? I sell my bars there..so you may have even seen me there before. Anyway, I know this is really cheesey of me but I would love to talk to you sometime [b/c i’m sure you have so much free time, haha]. Check out my blog if you have time…or shoot me an email if you can. [www.otabars.blogspot.com] Bye for now! =)
K says
That’s too bad the Nasoya stuff is so sweet – I was looking forward to trying it but I’m really sensitive to sugar. Perhaps I’ll have to pass!
Good luck with the packing! Worst part in my opinion 😉
Hallie (Healthy Twists) says
I am the WORST packer! I even make lists of what to bring and will still get it wrong…like I’ll bring 5 gym tops (and I’ll only get to the gym once) and no shirts for going out. But I always say, “I’m not going to Africa” (unless you are, right Kath?) and if need be I can get what I forget at my destination 🙂
Shannon says
Make sure you pack a light jacket or sweater–it can still be a bit chilly here in Boston at night! 🙂
Chloe (Naturally Frugal) says
Ugh, I hate packing too. I do the exact same thing where I just throw clothes in, but forget that I need to translate those clothes into outfits. Looks like you’ve come up with a good solution!
Have a great trip!
Jenn (www.j3nn.net) says
I have a sweet tooth too but some things are just way TOO sweet to eat a lot of, like maple syrup!
Jenn
rhodeygirl says
hm. it looks delicious, too bad it was too sweet!!!
Kath, you MUST check out the lunch I just made. I finished an hour ago and am still thinking about it. I really think it is up your alley!!!!! http://www.rhodeygirltests.com
yum yummmmm
Kath says
Snake,
I changed it in college!!
I fixed the grammar
And I’m going to be in Baltimore that weekend 🙁
Andee (Runtolive),
No, it isn’t any creamier. In fact, this smoothie was pretty liquidy. With less milk, maybe so (although I only used half a cup).
Jessica ,
OH MY GOSH YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The iPhone changed my life. I love it with all of my being 🙂 We had to switch plans too, but it ended up costing is even less than we were paying at Verizon.
Jess ,
I imagine it would be awesome in baked goods – like those cupcakes!! i have another coupon, so I’ll try that next time.
Christina ,
Yes, it was delish as pudding!
Carrie H,
I have the book but I haven’t picked it up yet. I’ll let you all know when I do, although it might be a while 🙂
Ashley ,
What a coincidence!!! We should get together for dinner sometime soon 🙂
K
Allie says
Eating a smoothie like a soup? Hmm, perhaps I’ll try this for breakfast tomorrow and good luck with your to do list! Love your blog!
Erin says
Green is the BEST color, obvi! My fav too. 😉
And that is one brillz looking bowl o green!
Have a fabulous time in Boston!
lynn (The Actors Diet) says
sounds like i would like that silken creations…i like stuff super duper sweet!!!
Carrie H says
Well, when you do get to it, it is a quick read! I finished it in three nights … it is easy and interesting!
faith says
hborough was fun, great restaurant recomendation!
do you mean lucuma powder?? i’ve been using that stuff in my lunch time smoothies too! it’s awesome!
http://cottchz.wordpress.com/2009/07/15/powerfood-smoothie-and-wacky-wednesday/
Lele says
I love green too! I have boring brown eyes, but green is the color of growing things and plants and goodness!
Katharina says
I think if I were to make a smoothie for my breakfast I’d have to serve it in a bowl. It just wouldn’t feel like breakfast, you know? I need some kind of utensil.